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(meteorobs) USAF Satellites Weather Leonids
14th Air Force
Vandenberg AFB, California
November 18, 1998
Release No. 98-1102
USAF SATELLITES WEATHER LEONIDS
SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Air Force spacecraft appear undamaged
following today's Leonid meteoroid storm according to Air Force space crews
flying the nation's military satellite force. We will continue to carefully
monitor our spacecraft to ensure they are working properly," said Col.
Michael Kelly, Deputy Commander, 50th Operations Group.
Uncertain about the severity of the storm, 14th Air Force space operations
crews spent much of the past several months preparing for possible storm
damage to Air Force satellites. Crews practiced comprehensive techniques
to limit storm damage and honed their responses to satellite hazards.
"We prepared for the worst and were pleased the storm did not directly
threaten our space assets," said Major General Gerald Perryman, commander
of 14th Air Force and component commander, U.S. Air Force Space Operations,
U.S. Space Command. "America absolutely depends on its commercial and
military space assets. We erred on the side of caution to protect those
assets and are pleased to report that our space forces are on-station and
healthy."
Each November the Earth passes through the debris trail of comet Tempel-
Tuttle; but every 32-33 years it passes through the densest portion of the
comet's debris, which significantly increases the number of meteoroids near
the Earth.
The last Leonids storm occurred in 1966 when there weren't as many satellites
on orbit or the technology to gather detailed meteoroid data. Predicting the
number and location of Leonids meteoroids is not easy, according to Air Force
officials. This year, impact expectations ranged from negligible to serious.
As a result, satellite operation crews prepared for the worst. Even so,
Air Force officials did not expect any DoD satellites to lose complete
capabilities during the storm, but were ready to carry on vital space
missions before, during and after the storm.
Fourteenth Air Force encompasses all U.S. Air Force space forces. Its
operations include global ballistic missile warning, space surveillance,
satellite control, space-based navigation and communications, and spacelift
generation and range operations.
For more information about Air Force measures during Leonids, contact the
14th Air Force public affairs office at (805) 734-8232 extension 66075 /
DSN 276-6075.
For additional information on the 21st Space Wing's role please contact
Capt Robyn Chumley or Capt Rick Hargrave at (719) 556-4696 / DSN 834-4696;
for 50th Space Wing contact Patsy Bomhoff at (719) 567-5047 / DSN 560-5040.
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